Charm is back in the water, buffed and polished, fresh bottom paint and a brand new refrigeration system.
Tonight we are anchored outside of Baby Owl Cove on the Choptank. We last were here in May of 2010 on a yacht club cruise up the bay with David and Kate Raffetto on their beloved Success. This year's sailing season will be a little bittersweet. Over the winter we lost our dear friend and sailing buddy David to cancer. Over the short 7 years that we knew Dave, we sailed all over the Chesapeake Bay with him and his wife Kate. We won't visit too many anchorages that won't harbor memories of fun times with them both. Tomorrow we plan to visit St Michaels, and like so many other harbor towns, Jim will remember walking the streets with Dave and Murphy, aka "Chick Magnet", while Kate and I frequented the little shops. Kate would always buy something and Dave would roll his eyes in mock horror at the latest purchase. Dave always had a big smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye. He fought cancer with bravery and quiet dignity. I will treasure each and every memory of him. We will miss him terribly and a part of sailing just won't be the same.
This cruise finds us traveling up the bay with Karl and Nancy on Karibee Kat and Ed and Lynn on Skydusky. We had an exciting couple of days up the bay with a good shakedown of all systems. So far, so good. Today we even got to fly the spinnaker. The picture shows Skydusky with her spinnaker up, before she disappeared out in front of us. Those little lightweight cats do fly.
So here's to sailing and especially here's to Dave. Let the 2012 sailing season begin.